Three facts about the Asian Festival

The 32nd annual celebration of Asian culture, put on by the Wichita Asian Association, is scheduled for Saturday at Century II, 225 W. Douglas, and it’s known among local foodies as a great place to get amazing Asian cuisine. Here’s what you need to know to enjoy the flavor:

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The food: The festival always fills Century II with local vendors serving a long list of Asian cuisine, including spring rolls, boba teas and Vietnamese sandwiches. This year’s festival will feature about 40 booths representing 12 countries.

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The culture: The festival also features Asian art and jewelry for sale and includes dancing, singing, martial arts, a Miss Asian Festival Scholarship pageant and more.

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The particulars: Hours for the festival are 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at Century II’s Convention Hall. Admission is free, though donations are accepted. Visitors must pay for food at the individual booths. For more information, visit www.indoasian.org/waa.

Quick bites

Now open: Garden Grill Cafe

Former d’Sozo chef Miguel Larcher just opened the restaurant he’s been working on for months, Garden Grill Cafe, on the first floor of Occidental Plaza, 300 N. Main. (Longtime Wichitans will remember Two Feathers, El Torero and other restaurants operating in the space.) The restaurant focuses on vegetarian and vegan food made with Greek, Italian and Mediterranean flavors. Larcher is offering daily specials and a menu full of smoothies, sandwiches, pizzas and pasta dishes. He also plans Tuesday night cooking classes and Monday night lectures by health professionals. He’ll open for Sunday brunch starting Nov. 4. Until then, his hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with dinner hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 316-978-9213.

Chili bowls and cooking school

Two annual food events are scheduled for this weekend. The Chili Bowl Sale will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday outside Kirby’s Beer Store, 3227 E. 17th St. For $10, diners get their choice of a handmade ceramic bowl crafted by members of the Wichita State University Ceramics Guild filled with a choice of 10 different types of chili. Proceeds benefit Envision. The event will be outside on Kirby’s patio, so children and families are welcome.

Another event is the Taste of Home Cooking School, which is in its third year at Hartman Arena, 8151 N. Hartman Arena Dr. in Park City. A cooking expo is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a cooking school is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visit hartmanarena.com.